Some Exorcism Is Needed In The K-Drama ‘The Haunted Palace’

The Haunted Palace begins with the story of a dragon, Gang Cheol, who tries for a thousand years to ascend to heaven, only to have his careful plan foiled by a human child. When he inhabits a human form he walks through green fields dressed in black veils destroying every living thing in his path.

The bringer of bad luck, he’s also a threat to shamans, the only defense most humans have against his wrath. When a young Yeo-ri tells her shaman grandmother she will dispose of Gang Cheol once and for all, her grandmother warns her to avoid him, to run whenever she sees him. Although Yeo-ri, played by Bona (Pyramid Game) rejects her destiny as a shaman, she still sometimes confronts evil spirits and Gang Cheol continues to stalk her. If Gang Cheol, played by Kim Young-kwang (Hello Me) can recruit this talented shaman, he’s sure that he can change his destiny. If he becomes Yeo-ri’s guardian and she prays for him, he might be able to resume his ascent to heaven.

However, she’s not interested in helping him and repeatedly ignores both his promises and threats. She’s lonely because he might hurt anyone who befriends her. Still she resists, until he takes the form of Yoon-gab, a childhood friend. Yoon-gab invites her to the palace, but under false pretenses. He wants to use her shamanistic skills to exorcize a demon.

Yoon-gab, played by Yook Sung-jae (Mystic Pop-Up Bar, Guardian: The Great and Lonely God), reports to the king, played by Kim Ji-hoon (Death’s Game, Love To Hate You). The royal palace is infested with evil spirits and one of them has taken hold of the young prince. And it’s not the only vengeful spirit in the palace. A shaman with special skills is sorely needed to protect the royal family. So, Yoon-gab decides to enlist Yeo-ri, even if it means lying to her. Things get even more complicated when Yoon-gab’s possession by Gang Cheol prompts some paranormal surprises and romantic confusion.

Most of the ghosts in the royal residence are female spirits. So, when Yeo-ri arrives she will need to find out why life in the palace has created so many vengeful spirits and also why so many of them are women.

The Haunted Palace is directed by Yun Seong-sik, who is quite familiar with historical drama sets having directed Mr. Queen, Hwarang and The King’s Face.The screenplay is written by Yoon Soo-jung, who wrote Cheer Up and The Fugitive of Joseon. The drama airs on Viki.com in the U.S.